Seattle Police investigating first East Precinct homicide of 2025 after man dies in shooting near youth jail campus

The new Seattle Police chief’s first weekend on the job includes a homicide investigation in the East Precinct.

Multiple callers reported gunfire early Saturday near the King County Youth Services facility just before 4:30 AM. SPD says arriving officers found a man down with a gunshot wound to the abdomen on E Spruce just south of the juvenile detention and court campus.

Seattle Fire arrived at 12th and Spruce about 10 minutes later to treat the victim and transport him to Harborview where SPD said he declared dead.

According to East Precinct radio updates, witnesses reported the suspect was last seen fleeing eastbound from the scene on an electric scooter. There were no reported arrests.

Officers were collecting evidence in the area and searching for shell casings where the shooting reportedly occurred near 13th and Fir.

The killing is the first homicide in the East Precinct recorded so far in 2025. CHS reported here on the 14 investigated in the precinct in 2024.

The slaying comes as newly appointed SPD Chief Shon Barnes begins his command of the department after leading Madison, Wisconsin’s police force.

 

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